With the mobile chargers that we usually have, and as long as their quality is at an acceptable minimum, there is practically no risk of accident if we leave them plugged in while they are not charging the phone. However, this is not the most advisable either: apart from the fact that they will continue to waste energy, it is better to get closer to risk 0. If possible.
Charging the phone is an action that we perform daily. Or every two days if you don’t use the phone too much, you may even have to use the socket several times a day. And it makes sense that the charger stays in the socket, if only for save time searching and logging in. Now: what does it actually mean to keep the charger plugged in when the phone is not charging?
Electricity consumption is minimal, but it all adds up
When leaving the charger in the socket without connecting the cell phone at the other end, the main current flow is interrupted, but not completely: Internal components remain operational. The energy consumed is very low and cannot be measured with most smart plugs: modern mobile chargers have a standby consumption of less than 0.05 W/h.
Although the charger is obviously not working, since it is not charging any phones, it still has minimal performance. In terms of cost for the user, the price of keeping the charger plugged in is derisory: carry out tests with our chargers, and take as a reference the average price of electricity in March (regulated market), a the year with the charger plugged in is around 0.02 dollars. Enchufado 24/7.
Keeping each charger connected and without plugging in the mobile represents a few cents of electricity consumption per year
Yes, consumption is almost negligible. But you just need to add all the chargers in your home and multiply them by the number of homes each country has, for electricity waste to take shape in a noticeable way. Additionally, there is another implication we need to consider: security.
Even a good charger can short circuit and cause disaster
In all the years we have been charging devices, and with dozens of chargers used (some of questionable quality, we admit), No one has ever overheated to the point of causing an accident.. The risks are minimal, it must be emphasized, but there will always be more than if we kept the charger out of the socket.
Due to a manufacturing defect that materializes months after the purchase of the charger, because its quality is not very good, because a specific electrical problem occurs at home, a short circuit in the cables … These are almost repairable failures, but they can exist. More than one testimony can corroborate this.
Although the phantom consumption is ridiculous, and taking into account that the security of chargers has improved considerably, we can conclude that Keeping them in the socket is no problem either.. However, we try to disconnect them every time we finish charging the phone: better safe than sorry. It all adds up.
Cover image | Ivan Linares
In Xataka Android | How to choose a charger for your cell phone: types, power, safety and everything you need to know
